Hey all, just wondering what all your favourite VGM tracks are and why. I'll start the ball rolling:
5) Sol Feace - Level 2 - Mega CD
The thing I love about this - and indeed many Mega CD and PCE CD soundtracks - was that the machines were released in an era when cartridge was the de facto storage format for console games, and, with this in mind, videogame musicians simply recreated traditional videogame soundtracks but using more channels and with much more fidelity than was available to them via regular sound chips. It was as if their shackles had been removed, and that they were able to compose the music they wanted without any restriction on file size, sample rate, or overall quality. For me I found it a shame when during the Saturn and Playstation era, videogames moved towards 'real' music that the CD formats could provide.
What I love in particular about this track are all the intricate arpeggios.
4) Crazy Sue 2 - Level 1 - Amiga
I still find it hard to believe that a PD/freeware game back in the day could have such high production values. Of course with the spread of indie development these days, such things are more common, but contextually this was more polished than many full-price games at the time, save for the dodgy jump mechanic.
Really love this evidently tracker-based tune. It really gives a flavour of the host hardware and has that unique Amiga sound to it.
3) Streets of Rage 2 - Slow Moon - Mega Drive
Doesn't need much introduction, I guess, as most people will probably have a favourite SoR track. For me, Keep the Groove In was my favourite track with the original SoR, and this remix turns the notch up by twenty. Really love the incorporation of the SMS chip in amongst the MD's regular FM. Gives it a really haunting sound.
2) Shenmue - Shenmue Theme - Dreamcast
Beautiful, so stirring, so epic. I take back what I said earlier about it being a shame that videgames moved towards incorporating 'real' music.
1) Outrun - Magical Sound Shower - Arcade
It had to be, didn't it? I mean. come on, can anyone contest that this isn't the greatest VGM sountrack of all time? Even if the rest of the track was rubbish - which it certainly isn't - the steel drum arrangement alone should catapult it to number one!
So come on, I've done mine --- what's your top five?
5) Sol Feace - Level 2 - Mega CD
The thing I love about this - and indeed many Mega CD and PCE CD soundtracks - was that the machines were released in an era when cartridge was the de facto storage format for console games, and, with this in mind, videogame musicians simply recreated traditional videogame soundtracks but using more channels and with much more fidelity than was available to them via regular sound chips. It was as if their shackles had been removed, and that they were able to compose the music they wanted without any restriction on file size, sample rate, or overall quality. For me I found it a shame when during the Saturn and Playstation era, videogames moved towards 'real' music that the CD formats could provide.
What I love in particular about this track are all the intricate arpeggios.
4) Crazy Sue 2 - Level 1 - Amiga
I still find it hard to believe that a PD/freeware game back in the day could have such high production values. Of course with the spread of indie development these days, such things are more common, but contextually this was more polished than many full-price games at the time, save for the dodgy jump mechanic.
Really love this evidently tracker-based tune. It really gives a flavour of the host hardware and has that unique Amiga sound to it.
3) Streets of Rage 2 - Slow Moon - Mega Drive
Doesn't need much introduction, I guess, as most people will probably have a favourite SoR track. For me, Keep the Groove In was my favourite track with the original SoR, and this remix turns the notch up by twenty. Really love the incorporation of the SMS chip in amongst the MD's regular FM. Gives it a really haunting sound.
2) Shenmue - Shenmue Theme - Dreamcast
Beautiful, so stirring, so epic. I take back what I said earlier about it being a shame that videgames moved towards incorporating 'real' music.
1) Outrun - Magical Sound Shower - Arcade
It had to be, didn't it? I mean. come on, can anyone contest that this isn't the greatest VGM sountrack of all time? Even if the rest of the track was rubbish - which it certainly isn't - the steel drum arrangement alone should catapult it to number one!
So come on, I've done mine --- what's your top five?
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